The Official Website & Blog of Paxton Allewell. Communications Specialist, Educator, Writer and Designer.
Health
My Winter Homecation
Feb 17th
My parents took off last week on their annual getaway south and here I am stuck in winter. Fortunately the last couple days have been unusually warm, but let’s not kid ourselves it will get cold again very soon.
If, like me, you don’t have a warm winter getaway planned, then you might want to consider the gold ol’ ‘homecation’ option.
Homecation: “With the high cost of travel, people are opting to stay at home. In many cases, they are transforming their homes into a resort, which entertains their local family and friends in the comfort and security of their “personal resort”. (source: Urban Dictionary)
I’ve compiled a couple videos below that have helped me with my winter blahs, hopefully they might help you too.
It was great the other day. My room has a nice big window facing a park and the sun was out and super bright so I took off my shirt, grabbed a comfy seat, put my feet up and soaked in the rays while listening to the sounds of the ocean from these videos. Try it sometime 
The first video is a ‘BEST FLORIDA BEACHES’ video from a dvd company “Relax Now”. I like this one because it reminds me of vacations past, and it holds the shot for a few minutes adding to the effect of actually feeling ‘there’. The first shot with the seagulls in this video isn’t the best one by any means, so wait it out, it’s worth it. If this video isn’t for you, they also have these same type of videos from beaches of Hawaii, Bahamas, Carribean and California and more….just youtube “Best Beaches” and you’ll find them…they’re awesome!
The second video has some beautiful pictures of the ocean, especially the sunset shots, and it also has a soundtrack, which the first video doesn’t.
Cheers to homecations!
The Art of Life Management
Oct 3rd
Join Jesse Jacobs and his “good friends, and role models Leo Babauta, author of the awsome blog Zen Habits, Four Hour Workweek author Tim Ferriss, and VP of the San Francisco Zen Center, Susan O’Connell as [they] have tea, and connect on the meaning of life, zen, and how to live with joy in a world full of technology and distraction.
Topics Include…
- What is Zen?
- How to meditate
- How these people manage their lives
- How to live with meaning
- How to use the technology and the tools of our times”
Quoted from Jesse Jacobs’ vimeo page.
This is a great topic and I think we need more of this type of interviewing, especially from good society role models. I find it interesting and useful to learn how “successful” people live their lives and choose their everyday routines and strategies. Sometimes it reaffirms my choices and actions, and sometimes it can open my eyes and mind to new opportunities and approaches. Enjoy!
So long Eva Markvoort – aka 65_RedRoses
Apr 3rd
Eva with her laptop at the hospital
I’m sad to report that Eva Markvoort, subject and STAR of the documentary 65_RedRoses, passed away on March 27th. On her blog it said: “Our beautiful girl died this morning at 9:30. She is at peace. Will write more later.”
It hurt to read it.
Eva had battled with the genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis her whole life and recently went through a double lung transplant hoping to be cured (the story of the documentary).
With what seemed to be a successful transplant, Eva’s life was hers again and it was so incredible to see and experience indirectly, but unfortunately her body rejected the lungs and she has since passed only months later. The documentary made note of the serious possibility of rejection, but she seemed clear of that issue. So it was very surprising to hear that her body had rejected the lungs.
I remember seeing the amazingly cool photo of Eva Markvoort on the front of NOW Magazine in Toronto, and also on the cover of the Hot Docs film festival. See pic here >> – (More pics from her visit to Toronto are on her blog as well).
I was fortunate enough to meet Eva in person after a viewing of the documentary 65_RedRoses at the Bloor Cinema during the 2009 Hot Docs festival. I didn’t think she was going to make it as I heard she was heading back to Vancouver that day. But she was in attendance, and I was so happy to spot her just a few rows back from me. I peeked over a few times to see her expression and I could see her looking around at the audience a bit trying to evaluate their experience. She had such an innocent, humble yet movie star-like quality to her. (She was an actor as well).
After the film I got to say hello and shake her hand which was special. I was so impressed with the amount of love and courage she had. The film highlighted her love, her q&a talk after the film highlighted it, her blog highlighted it. Love ran through her like fire and she wasn’t afraid to show and admit it. Her passion and openness about love was inspiring and contageous.
Since last fall I’ve checked out her blog every once in awhile, and I was shocked when I discovered that her body was rejecting her lungs, and that she was going to die. It was so sad, and I literally cried, which I don’t do often.
But she fought so hard throughout her whole life and she’s left a legacy of love that will long outlive her. I hope you can take a few minutes to learn more about her.
Make sure you check out her popular blog: 65redroses.livejournal.com. Also, below is a video of MP Joyce Murray’s Statement on the Life of Eva Markvoort and you’ll also the find the official preview of the documentary 65_RedRoses, which was named after her blog.
Sun Salutation – A perfect morning exercise
Jan 24th
“The Sun Salutation is a classic vinyasa, a series of flowing poses…two to three repetitions are a good warm-up…five to ten repetitions are an excellent daily practice,” according to my Yoga book by Kristie Dahlia Home.
I’m writing this post because I’m feeling invigorated by the Sun Salutation. The past few mornings I have been doing the Sun Salutation set of poses and it’s been so refreshing, and as I said before, invigorating.
One of my goals this year has been to try to stretch everyday, but I find normal stretching exercises just too boring and not sustainable for me. Thus, I never end up achieving my goal.
It’s frustrating that my body requires so much attention; but at the same time it’s a good thing I guess because it keeps me healthier. My body especially gets angry at me if I don’t give it a consistent stretch or workout. It leaves me a weak and bitter person. So it has been important for me to find something that makes us both happy.
I remember taking my first Yoga classes when I first moved to Toronto in the Summer of 2005. Not only was I impressed with the attractive women in them (like many guys), I really enjoyed the unique combination of stretching, exercise, and meditation that it involved. It was much more challenging than first expected. Yoga activates and enriches the mind, body and spirit – it’s a complete package.
I have taken a good number of classes since, but it’s been challenging to keep it a routine and make it a priority, and I haven’t been practicing Yoga for a long time now.
So, I’m pleased to get back in tune with some of the Yoga practices again, and I really think I found a (stretching) solution that will last! And after thinking about it a bit, I realized that the Sun Salutation reminds me a lot of the child’s stretching game: “Head and Shoulders, Knees and toes…” except this is the improved adult version.
I like using the Sun Salutation as a good base to build from everyday. I can lift weights afterwards; go for a run afterwards; do more Yoga; or just count it as my stretch for the day and carry on.
If you’ve never taken a Yoga class, I do recommend it. There are a lot of variations and levels in Yoga, so it can be intimidating, but just let the instructor know you’re new and you’ll be just fine. I’m almost positive you will enjoy it.
Have you ever taken a Yoga class? Do you like the Sun Salutation, or Yoga as much as me? Are you a Lulu Lemon fanatic? Please share a comment here.
Below is a short video example of the Sun Salutation that may be useful to you for reference. There are other variations out there as well.